Shon Hopwood (left), associate professor of law at Georgetown Law highlights the fact that the longer people stay in the prison system, the more likely they are to commit a new crime when they do get out.
On August 28, 2017, Brookings convened a forum focused on the need for criminal justice reform and explored possible alternatives to the existing system. In light of the current political climate and policies adopted by the Department of Justice, questions around sentencing guidelines and recidivism reduction are more urgent than ever. Are the financial burdens of large prison populations worth the cost? How can alternative sentences—from community service to house arrest—be used to deal with nonviolent offenders in a fair and equitable way?
The forum began with a gubernatorial perspective on reform measures, which was followed by a panel discussion. After the session, panelists took questions from the audience.
Shon Hopwood (left), associate professor of law at Georgetown Law highlights the fact that the longer people stay in the prison system, the more likely they are to commit a new crime when they do get out.
On August 28, 2017, Brookings convened a forum focused on the need for criminal justice reform and explored possible alternatives to the existing system. In light of the current political climate and policies adopted by the Department of Justice, questions around sentencing guidelines and recidivism reduction are more urgent than ever. Are the financial burdens of large prison populations worth the cost? How can alternative sentences—from community service to house arrest—be used to deal with nonviolent offenders in a fair and equitable way?
The forum began with a gubernatorial perspective on reform measures, which was followed by a panel discussion. After the session, panelists took questions from the audience.